The surprise is not really the hotels. The report says the bigger swing factor is airfare.
That matters because the Bay Area is not usually framed as a budget destination. Yet if flights stay competitive and hotel pricing remains relatively steady, it could become one of the more attractive bases for neutral fans, especially those trying to build a wider U.S. trip around the tournament.
The same report places Houston just behind the Bay Area at $1,056, with costs climbing more sharply elsewhere.
The pattern is telling. World Cup travel is rarely driven by hotel price alone. Air access, local demand and the broader event culture around each city all shape the bill. The update says the Bay Area has not, at least yet, seen the same price pressure as some stronger soccer-demand markets.
Across all host regions in North America, Mexican cities appear even more affordable in the same study.
That underlines a key theme before 2026: location strategy may matter as much as match tickets. As the draw gets closer and travel demand firms up, the next storyline to watch is simple - whether the Bay Area can hold its place once flights, rooms and fan demand start moving in earnest.